Meenakshi ChhabraProfessional Title: Associate Professor, Interdisciplinary Studies, International Higher Education and Intercultural Relations (On Sabbatical for the Fall 2014 Semester)Areas of Academic Focus and Expertise:Peace and conflict transformation studies and citizenship and civic engagement among youth, with a focus on collective violence in International conflict zones. Area of Work and Concentration at Lesley: Interdisciplinary studies Program, Intercultural Relations Program Representative List of Recent Courses Taught:• Intergroup Conflict Transformation• Identity and Politics of Difference

Meenakshi has been a scholar and practitioner in the field of Peace and Conflict Studies since 2001. The focus of her research is in education and youth development in conflict zones with an emphasis on South Asia. She has written and published in national and international journals. She has written and published in national and international journals. She was awarded a Fulbright teaching fellowship to India in 2007 and a second Fulbright Research fellowship for 2011. Her research interests include Conflict Transformation, Peace Studies, Adolescent Development, Citizenship, and Civic Engagement among youth. She is currently serving as a visiting scholar at the Harvard University Graduate School of Education. Her current research is on the teaching about events of collective violence in communities of conflict. Meenakshi has also taught at the United Nations University of Peace in Costa Rica and at the Lesley University, Israel campus. In addition to teaching and research, Meenakshi has consulted with Open Circle, a nationally known program that trains educators to enhance social and emotional competency among elementary school students. She also consults and facilitates dialogue workshops between youth and educators from conflicting countries with the Seeds of Peace Program, an internationally known organization working to build peace through youth interactions.